Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has supported Declan Rice to lift the Ballon d'Or in the future. He thinks the English player has the potential, saying that individual honor would also mean the club had ended their trophy drought.
Mikel Arteta backs Declan Rice to win Ballon d'Or
Interacting with the media last week, Arteta said that he hopes to see Rice win the Ballon d'Or, as he has been a pivotal figure in the side. He added the midfielder has been on peak of his game since the beginning of the season and said:
"I hope so. That would mean that we have won a lot. Normally it goes very much related to (trophies). Again, I think he was immense the other day. I think he's been immense since the start of the season. He's an incredible and crucial player for us."
Bukayo Saka is another player with his eyes set on the prestigious award, saying earlier that he dreams of winning it during his career. He also said that his focus would always remain on team performances and said to Sky Sports:
"Of course, yeah, it's a dream and I think it's a dream for a lot of players. Oh yeah. Like I said the only thing you can focus on now is is when in here, that's my main focus and you know everything else come after that. But yeah, the main focus has been in here."
Declan Rice was the only Arsenal player in the Ballon d'Or Top 30 in 2-25, finishing 27th with 13 points.
Arsenal icon deserved the Ballon d'Or in his career, believes Didier Drogba
Chelsea icon Didier Drogba talked about Thierry Henry earlier this year, saying the Arsenal icon deserved to win the Ballon d'Or. He named the French player as the best winger he has ever seen and said that that the forward should have won the award 10 times, and told BR Football:
"Thierry Henry (was unfairly overlooked). He deserved it like 10 times because I think he was fantastic in the Premier League, but also for the national team and in the Champions League he was exceptional. Scoring goals, winning games on his own and for his team. I mean, we're talking about Thierry Henry - I don't know if there's anything more to say."
Thierry Henry's best finish in the Ballon d'Or was in 2003, when the Arsenal icon came second to Pavel Nedved. He finished third in 2006, while coming fourth twice in his career: 2000 and 2004.